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Man Accepts Life Sentences For 2007 St. Pete Killings

By STEPHEN THOMPSON

spthompson@tampatrib.com

Published: February 25, 2009

Dorian Dillard

Cordaro Hardin

Dorian Dillard, one of the two men charged with killing two homeless men in St. Petersburg in 2007, told his defense attorney he didn't want the case to go to trial because he didn't want the families of the victims to experience any more heartache, his defense attorney said in court today.

Dillard offered to serve a life prison sentence, prosecutor Scott Rosenwasser said outside court later. The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office, which wanted Dillard and accused accomplice Cordaro Hardin to receive the death penalty, countered with their own offer: Two life sentences, served back to back.

Dillard accepted it.

The families of the two homeless men were grateful that he did.

Then, today, Dillard apologized for what he had done.

On Jan. 17, 2007, Dillard and accused accomplice Cordaro Hardin killed Jeffery Michael Shultz, 43, and David Heath, 53, who were found just blocks from one another, their bodies left in alleys.

Robbery was the motive in at least one of the fatal shootings. Police described the shooting victims as homeless, but Heath's family said that wasn't the case with him.

This afternoon, in accordance with the plea agreement, Pinellas Circuit Judge Nancy Moate Ley found Dillard, now 22, guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced him to prison for the rest of his life.

Before she did so, the families of the victims spoke. With the exception of the two victims' mothers – who said they could not forgive Dillard for what he did – the victims' family members expressed sadness and, while they said they wanted justice served, they also said they didn't want vengeance.

"Dorian, I don't want bad things for you," said George Castrinos, one of Heath's brothers, looking the defendant in the eye. "David Heath's little brother forgives you."

Nick Castrinos, another brother, was similarly sympathetic.

"It's a real shame that your daughter will never know her father," he told Dillard.

Jason Heath, one of Heath's sons, told Dillard he was appreciative of the guilty plea and making the judicial ordeal "as easy as possible."

"I don't have revenge in my heart for you," said Heath's sister, Barbara Jones.

However, the victims' mothers – Heath's mother, June Bartke, and Shultz's mother, Barbara Hartz – said they could not forgive him.

"I'm sorry, I can't forgive you," said Hartz said.

Bartke reflected that Dillard took two lives.

"What he didn't know was he was taking his own," she said.

Dillard seemed remorseful as he addressed the families in court.

"It was a senseless act," he said. "I'm sorry to each and every one of you all. Nobody deserves none of this."

Some family members said thank you aloud.

Dillard's accused accomplice has yet to go to trial.